Pensioners' Incomes statistics
Annual statistics about pensioners’ incomes
This collection contains estimates of the levels, sources and distribution of pensioners’ incomes.
Next release date and key information
The next release of the PI statistics will be published in March 2027.
Planned summer 2026 update for FYE 2019 to FYE 2021
The planned summer update to the back-series administrative-linked data for FYE 2019, FYE 2020 and FYE 2021 will no longer be published on 30 June 2026.
A data issue was identified during final quality assurance of the back-series update which will need to be resolved before the data can be released.
To support prioritisation and statistical resource to deliver both the back-series and the FYE 2026 release the revision to incorporate administrative data into the historical years FYE 2019 to FYE 2021 will now be made in the March 2027 release. This will mean there will be one set of revisions to those years, alongside the other changes outlined in the Family Resources Survey release strategy.
Users should note that the references to the summer 2026 update in our March 2026 report and March Background Information and Methodology report will no longer apply. These changes will take place from March 2027 instead.
Error with FYE 2025 Council Tax variable
An error has been identified with the GROSSCT FRS variable, Band D council tax amount by local authority, which has been used in the March PI publications and in the FRS dataset. The problem was caused by an issue with the FRS processing tool, and an additional check has now been implemented to our processes to avoid a reoccurrence of similar problems in the future.
The impact of this error is minimal. The change is not material and does not change the overall trends in relation to poverty and pensioners’ incomes. The error should not affect the use of the data.
Following the approach outlined in the DWP Revisions and corrections policy the benefits against the costs of making a revision have been assessed, taking into account the expected uses of the statistics. Revising and republishing the FRS FYE 2025 and related publications at this stage would be disproportionate. Instead, the correction to the council tax variable for FYE 2025 will be made as part of our March 2027 release, alongside other changes outlined in the FRS Release Strategy including the production of a single revised back series of estimates using Census based population data for all years back to FYE 2013.
Changes within the latest release of the Pensioners’ Incomes (PI) statistics
The latest release of the Pensioners’ Incomes statistics was published on 26 March 2026.
Linking survey and administrative data
From the March 2026 publication, administrative data has been integrated into the FRS to replace survey responses for the major DWP and HMRC benefits. This reduces under-reporting of benefits that is currently seen in the FRS (and therefore PI). The update applies from FYE 2019 and is implemented in two stages: publication of administrative linked, improved datasets and estimates for FYE 2022 to FYE 2024 in March 2026, and for FYE 2019 to FYE 2021 in March 2027.
In March 2027, an administrative linked PI time series will be available from FYE 2019 to FYE 2025 inclusive. This integration of administrative data impacts the proportion of benefit units on State Pension, disability benefits, and income-related benefits, as well as the average weekly amount, and thereby gross and net income. This will be seen in all years from FYE 2022 (in March 2026) and from FYE 2019 (in March 2027). There is a structural break in the PI series at these points, and we advise users not to make a direct comparison of changes in income across the break. On relevant charts and tables, we have shown this as a break in the series with a dotted line and with relevant notes.
While the integration has reduced under-reporting, some under and over-reporting will remain. A report explaining this improvement in more detail has been published.
Further detail can be found in the FRS background information and methodology document.
Find future pensioners’ incomes publication dates in our statistics release calendar and more about our statistics on the Statistics at DWP page.
Email pensioners-incomes@dwp.gov.uk with feedback and queries.
Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR).
Data on Stat-Xplore
Pensioners’ incomes (PI) data is available from financial year ending (FYE) 1995 to FYE 2025 on the Stat-Xplore online tool.
You can use Stat-Xplore to create your own pensioner’s incomes analysis. The pensioners’ incomes information is available at family (pensioner unit) level.
In March 2027, the PI Stat-Xplore dataset will be split into:
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PI – data from 2018 to 2019 (admin-linked) – containing admin-linked data from FYE 2019
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PI – data to 2018 to 2019 (unlinked) – containing unlinked data from FYE 1995 to FYE 2019
Read the user guide to pensioners’ incomes data on Stat-Xplore.
Feedback
We are seeking feedback from users on this release of pensioners’ incomes. Email pensioners-incomes@dwp.gov.uk with your comments.
Latest release
Release strategy
This release strategy acts as the formal notice of changes to any future releases of the pensioners’ incomes publication.
The strategy describes the potential release of new statistics within the publication and announces any other developments for future publications.
The pensioners’ incomes release strategy is not a static document; it will be updated as plans develop, to provide users with details of latest developments.
Background information and guidance
Access the underlying data used to produce the statistics through the UK data archive. Read guidance on accessing sensitive versions of the data.
Read a guide to sources of data on earnings and income as well as further information on income and earning statistics, both published by the Office for National Statistics.
Previous releases
Find archived pensioners’ income statistics on The National Archives website.